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Appropriate Definition (appropriate + definition)
Selected AbstractsThe Epidemiology of Convulsive Status Epilepticus in Children: A Critical ReviewEPILEPSIA, Issue 9 2007Miquel Raspall-Chaure Summary:, There is ongoing debate regarding the most appropriate definition of status epilepticus. This depends upon the research question being asked. Based on the most widely used "30 min definition," the incidence of childhood convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in developed countries is approximately 20/100,000/year, but will vary depending, among others, on socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics of the population. Age is a main determinant of the epidemiology of CSE and, even within the pediatric population there are substantial differences between older and younger children in terms of incidence, etiology, and frequency of prior neurological abnormalities or prior seizures. Overall, incidence is highest during the first year of life, febrile CSE is the single most common cause, around 40% of children will have previous neurological abnormalities and less than 15% will have a prior history of epilepsy. Outcome is mainly a function of etiology. However, the causative role of CSE itself on mesial temporal sclerosis and subsequent epilepsy or the influence of age, duration, or treatment on outcome of CSE remains largely unknown. Future studies should aim at clarifying these issues and identifying specific ethnic, genetic, or socioeconomic factors associated with CSE to pinpoint potential targets for its primary and secondary prevention. [source] Public and Private Provision of Health CareJOURNAL OF ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, Issue 1 2002Pedro Pita Barros One of the mechanisms that are implemented in the cost containment movement in the health care sectors in western countries is the definition, by the third-party payer, of a set of preferred providers. The insured patients have different access rules to such providers when ill. The rules specify the copayments patients must pay when using an out-of-plan care provider. This paper studies the competitive process among providers in terms of both prices and qualities. Competition is influenced by the status of providers as in-plan or out-of-plan care providers. Also, there is a moral hazard of provider choice related to the trade-off between freedom to choose and the need to hold down costs. It is possible to achieve the first-best allocation by an appropriate definition of the reimbursement scheme when decisions on prices and qualities are taken simultaneously (as in primary health care sectors). In contrast, some type of regulation is needed to achieve the optimal solution when decisions are sequential (as in specialized health care sectors). We also derive normative conclusions on how price controls should be implemented in some European Union member states. [source] Metallosupramolecular approach toward functional coordination polymersJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 21 2005Rainer Dobrawa Abstract An appropriate definition of metallosupramolecular coordination polymer is offered, and the relationship between the polymer length, binding constant, and concentration is clarified. The possibility of influencing the binding constant with chelating ligands is discussed on the basis of examples of different Zn2+ complexes and their respective binding constants. In the main part, coordination polymers constructed by a supramolecular approach from different metal ions and pyridine,ligand systems are highlighted, and their applications as functional materials for artificial membrane and enzyme models, responsive gels, light-harvesting systems, and organic light-emitting diodes are discussed on the basis of individual examples. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4981,4995, 2005 [source] Alternating bowel pattern: what do people mean?ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 12 2006R. S. CHOUNG Summary Background With the introduction of new therapies, the subgrouping of patients based on bowel pattern has become important. However, the appropriate definition of an alternating bowel pattern remains unclear. Aim To determine if specific symptoms are reported by people with an alternating bowel pattern. Methods Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a series of population-based surveys were undertaken in which valid self-report gastrointestinal symptom questionnaires were mailed to 4029 randomly selected members of the community. One question asked was ,How would you describe your usual bowel pattern in the last year'? Results 3022 subjects (74%) provided questionnaire data and 2718 were eligible for this analysis, the mean age was 57 years, with a range of 20,98 years (median = 61). Of these, 9.2%, 2.5% and 7.6% reported their usual bowel pattern as being constipated, diarrhoea, or alternating respectively. At least 50% of those reporting alternating bowel pattern reported incomplete evacuation (63%), urgency (57%), straining (55%) and loose stool (50%). The proportion of alternators reporting each individual symptom was between that of diarrhoea and constipation except for mucus and incomplete evacuation; however, no symptom was unique to alternators. Conclusion People who self-report an alternating bowel pattern appear to represent a blend of constipation and diarrhoea symptoms, rather than a distinct subgroup. [source] Short communication: The relationship between pre-pregnancy care and early pregnancy loss, major congenital anomaly or perinatal death in type I diabetes mellitusBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2007DWM Pearson The relationships between markers of pregnancy planning and pre-pregnancy care and adverse outcomes (early pregnancy loss, major congenital anomaly and perinatal death) were examined in 423 singleton pregnancies in women with pre-gestational type I diabetes mellitus. Pregnancy planning and markers of pre-pregnancy care were associated with reduced risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. ,Documentation of achievement of an optimal haemoglobin A1c prior to discontinuation of contraception' was the marker associated with the lowest rate of adverse outcome (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.06,0.67) and might serve as an appropriate definition of pre-pregnancy care for research and audit purposes. [source] | ||||||||||